The Tribe’s No. 30 prospect going into 2020, according to MLB Pipeline, was the sidearm throwing right-hander Sandlin.
However, after spending late 2019 and early 2020 recovering from right forearm surgery, Sandlin dropped out of the Top 30 rankings. He could only pitch at the Tribe’s secondary training facility.
Pitcher Sandlin attended Greenbrier High School in Evans, Georgia, and throws with a sidearm motion. He joined the Golden Eagles baseball team at Southern Miss University, where he played collegiate baseball.
He played for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks during the 2017 Cape Cod Baseball League’s summer collegiate baseball season. In the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft, the Cleveland Indians selected Sandlin with the 67th overall choice.
He joined Cleveland and was given a $750,000 signing bonus. He played for the Akron RubberDucks, Lake County Captains, Lynchburg Hillcats, and AZL Indians during the 2018 season, amassing a combined 2-0 record, 3.00 ERA, and 36 strikeouts in 24 relief innings worked amongst the four teams.
He participated in games for the Columbus Clippers and Akron RubberDucks in 2019. Over 26+1/3 innings, he was 1-0 with a 2.39 ERA.
He would miss the remainder of the season due to a right forearm strain, it was revealed on July 1.
Due to the Minor League Baseball season being postponed in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, Sandlin did not participate in any games.
Sandlin received his first promotion to the major leagues on April 30, 2021.
In his Major League Baseball debut on May 1 against the Chicago White Sox, Sandlin got his first career major league punchout by striking out White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton.